Bear Sports News

MLB Top Stories of January 15th – January 22th

January 15, 2025

3–5 minutes

Multiple stories are starting to make the rounds around the MLB world, including news about free agency, the international market, and more! Today’s story will include quick reads on notable things happening around the league today.

Pete Alonso and the New York Mets

Well it’s just about a month away until players report to Florida and Arizona for spring training and Pete Alonso still hasn’t been signed to a MLB team. One of the top first basemen coming into this free agency period still hasn’t not found a home. But it has been made aware that the New York Mets and Pete Alonso have had conversations back and forth for the past couple of weeks.

Currently according to reports, Pete Alonso’s camp offered the Mets a three-year deal, no other teams have this offer available to them.

According to Jim Duquette, he reported that both sides are at a stand still. Due to the large market tied around Alonso and lots of the first basemen options are currently taken. He later mentioned that Steve Cohen may need to intervene to quickly get this deal done between Alonso and the Mets.

Roki Sasaki

Today, January 15th is the day Sasaki has had circled on his calendar since he got posted in the MLB. The day the international bonus pool money gets ‘reset’. According to reports, the finalist for Roki are the Dodgers, Padres and the Toronto Blue Jays.

It has been said by Sasaki’s team that he’d make his decision by January 23rd, with his desired team. On January 13th, Sasaki had his second workout with the Padres and had a workout with the Dodgers yesterday (Jan. 14th) with multiple star players in attendance.

Don’t forget that due to Sasaki’s age, he is not allowed to sign for a record amount like Yamamoto did last season, it’s very similar to when the Angels and Ohtani worked out a deal to bring him to the states.

The finalists for Japanese star right-hander Roki Sasaki are the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays, sources tell ESPN. Sasaki will decide on his team by the closing of his posting window Jan. 23.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2025

The Dodgers and Sasaki are said to already have a handshake deal in place to bring Sasaki to LA.

The Padres have had two meetings with Sasaki and with his role model (Darvish) on the team, they also have a good chance at being the team that Sasaki ends up choosing.

The Blue Jays we’re able to get a meeting with Sasaki in Toronto are said to feel very good about their pitch to Sasaki. Don’t count the Blue Jays out here to be a wild card.

International Market

As mentioned, today (January 15th) is the day the international bonus pool money gets reset. Multiple teams already have spoken agreements with players to put pen to paper tomorrow. Multiple players including Elian Peña, Andrew Salas and Elian De La Cruz all getting ready to sign to their respective teams today. A huge day for multiple of these young players and here at Bear Sports News, we wish them the best of luck in the MLB!

Alex Bregman to the Cubs?!

Another top free agent in the market is Alex Bregman. Who has yet to be signed to a MLB team. According to Bruce Levine, the Cubs and Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras have been in discussions about Bregman. The Cubs are reportedly not interested in a long-term deal. They are looking for a three-year deal with an opt-out after the first two seasons.

Bregman recently turned down a 6yr/156m extensions from the Astros and still has failed to find anything similar to that in this market.

But the question for the Cubs right now, is Bregman even worth it? He will more than likely be signed to a 60m+ deal or somewhere in the ballpark of that. With multiple questions that still need to be answered like the bullpen, and the bench, this move will likely throw a wrench in those plans.

Now since the Astros sent over a QO (qualifying offer) to Bregman and he declined, the Cubs would lose their second, fifth round draft picks, the associated bonus pool slots and 1m in the international free agent bonus pool.

Personally i don’t see the Cubs wanting to make this deal with all the extra baggage it will bring.

MLB Network release their Top 10 SP’s for 2025

MLB Network released their Top 10 starting pitchers, multiple pitchers like Tarik Skubal, Chris Sale and Cole Ragans are making appearances on this list after not being on the list last season. Below is how MLB Network ranked the pitchers with their ranking in 2024.